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Kane County Hospital Board deciding on Employee Retirement Plan

Vice Chairman Ray Clark conducted the June 18 Hospital Governing Board meeting. Members were faced with deadlines on selecting a suitable retirement plan for its employees. Several private companies have submitted plans. A work meeting is scheduled to complete the decision making process. Employees will be kept informed and be a part of any decisions.

Kane County Commissioner Daniel Hulet informed the board of the proposed group “Townsite Act” project on Cedar Mountain in the Duck Creek area. The “Townsite Act” authorizes the Forest Service to sell land in certain western states to local governmental entities for community purposes. The application must be for no more than 640 acres and the land must lie adjacent to the community that has applied to buy it. It is a community objective, combining the needs for public health facilities, public schools etc.

Hulet asked the board to consider participating in this future project along with the Kane County Water Conservancy District, Western Kane County Special Service District, Cedar Mountain Fire Protection District and other non-commercial entities. The property is sold based on the fair market value.

A plan must be submitted along with the application to the Forest Service. The project is in the planning stages to get estimated costs and potential participation. Member Shayne Ramsay asked Hulet if the hospital could just lease the land from the county? Hulet replied the county isn’t doing that.

Dr. Ott, representing the medical staff, Drs. Bowman and Salter stated they plan on hiring a Physician Assistant (PA) within the next few months.

Director of Nursing Rosalie Esplin reported being short staffed due to a variety of reasons that necessitated some overtime hours.

Finance Director Steven Howells commented the hospital revenue for May was not quite as good as April.

Hospital Administrator Sherrie Pandya stated candidates for volunteer positions on the Hospital Governing Board would be part of the 2009 Kane County Election process. Applications, provided by the state, for these positions can be picked up at the Hospital Admitting desk.

Pandya reported the problems with the State Adverse Drug Event (ADE) audit and the need to improve the hospitals method of dispensing medications to the patients. The hospital was required to submit a plan of correction to the state auditors. Pandya said a “band aid” plan was created and monitored in-house for efficiency. The plan to fax the med order to pharmacist Kortney Stirland to be screened for adverse effects before administrating it to the patient proved to be too cumbersome and time consuming for the nurses and for Stirland.

Pandya had to submit a follow up report to the state by August 20 advising them how the system is working. Pandya said, “It isn’t working”.

She stressed the need for a computerized system to detect the patient’s adverse reaction to the prescribed drug medications or recruiting a full or part-time pharmacist for the hospital in order to be in compliance with state and federal laws.

Representatives from the hospital met with the Park Service presenting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding ambulance service to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Pandya stated the intent of the MOU was to encourage the concession workers, EMT and paramedic personnel to, if possible, utilize private vehicles to transport patients to town instead of calling for an ambulance. There is a problem in radio signals/communications and dispatching in that area that can cause some delays. Calls for ambulance service cannot be denied.